During a recent appearance on “Let There Be Talk,” EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt looked back on his 2011-2019 tenure in SLAYER, recalling the 2013 firing of the band’s classic drummer Dave Lombardo.
“Well, it was made less tough because we were getting a guy [Paul Bostaph, who also played in EXODUS] that I’ve known for a large chunk of my musical life and who I have recorded an album with before [2005’s Shovel Headed Kill Machine],” Gary said.
“It’s one of those things that was shocking; it was, like, I get a call, ‘Dave‘s out.’ And in SLAYER, I wasn’t a decision-maker — it’s not my job. It’s different, the whole different thing like — if it happened in a band that I’m one of the controlling members of…
“So it sucked because Dave and I, we were like afternoon day—off compatriots, you know? We’d go out hunting down kebabs and beers on a summer day off in Germany. But, like I said, I’ve known Paul, I’ve recorded with Paul, so it was an easy adjustment.
He continued: “Before Paul came back, John Dette was doing the Australian dates [in 2013], and he asked who wants to come down and rehearse, different drummer; I said, ‘Nah.’ Truthfully, I haven’t rehearsed with SLAYER in years, I’d f*cking do my homework, you know?
“If you know the songs and you know them, you’re f*cking set, as long as you f*cking do your studying, you know? It’s like studying for a final exam. If you’re partying and hitting the frat parties, you’re gonna f*ck up; if you’re f*cking hitting the books, you’re gonna do fine.
Gary added: “As long as Kerry [King, guitar] is tight with Dave or this small stint with John or the years with Paul, I’m fine, because as long as they’re tight, I’m playing with both of them anyways.”
SLAYER played its final show of their farewell tour last November at the Forum in Los Angeles. One day later, Kerry‘s wife, Ayesha, said that there is “not a chance in hell” that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more shows.
SLAYER‘s longtime manager Rick Sales spoke about the band’s decision to embark on its farewell tour in a new interview with MassLive.com.
“The band has always had a lot of integrity,” he said, adding that “there are a couple things that go on. I totally get that they made a decision to stop touring. That doesn’t mean the end of the band. It’s just the end of touring. I always thought of it as, ‘You go out on top.’ They made that decision. They’re not milking it. From that standpoint, I get it and they made the right choice.”
Kristen Mulderig, who works with SLAYER‘s management company, Rick Sales Entertainment Group, says there will still be more stuff from the band in the future.
“We’re in legacy mode. which is a lot to do, even though they won’t be making records or on the road. They still have their endorsers, there’s still merch and branding to do — sync licenses and who knows? Maybe coming up with some sort of event that is SLAYER-based. This is all stuff we’re thinking about and talking about. SLAYER lives on, absolutely.”
